Witter Towbar mounted Bike Carrier

caissad
caissad Posts: 59
edited August 2007 in Workshop
A friend of mine is thinking of getting a Witter Towbar Mounted Bike Carrier. Are they any good? I have a Thule and I've heard of Pendle but I'd never heard of Witter carriers until she mentioned them to me.

Comments

  • caissad
    caissad Posts: 59
    Given the lack of response, I guess no-one else has heard of Witter Towbar Mounted Bike Carriers either!!
  • veryslowtwitch
    veryslowtwitch Posts: 321
    I have one and it is excellent. You do need an adapter tube fitted behind your towbar. This is included in the kit and can be fitted in minutes if you have a really big spanner but you may want to ask a garage to really tighten it up because if the bolts work loose you will lose your bike and trailer.

    The carrier is two piece steel and drops onto the adapter tube in about one second. No fiddling. Bike slides onto the carrier in about five seconds. Couple of bungee cords finishes it off. Carries two adult bikes easily, three is a bit tight but I've fitted four after taking off pedals and straightening bars. You need a number board for more than one bike.

    Disadvantages: can't open boot with bikes on. Might be tricky with full-sus weird frames. The adapter tube might foul your bumper if the towbar is very close to the bumper.

    I keep mine in the back of the car all the time and can chuck a bike on in seconds.

    Regards

    Alan
  • caissad
    caissad Posts: 59
    veryslowtwitch wrote:
    I have one and it is excellent. You do need an adapter tube fitted behind your towbar. This is included in the kit and can be fitted in minutes if you have a really big spanner but you may want to ask a garage to really tighten it up because if the bolts work loose you will lose your bike and trailer.

    The carrier is two piece steel and drops onto the adapter tube in about one second. No fiddling. Bike slides onto the carrier in about five seconds. Couple of bungee cords finishes it off. Carries two adult bikes easily, three is a bit tight but I've fitted four after taking off pedals and straightening bars. You need a number board for more than one bike.

    Disadvantages: can't open boot with bikes on. Might be tricky with full-sus weird frames. The adapter tube might foul your bumper if the towbar is very close to the bumper.

    I keep mine in the back of the car all the time and can chuck a bike on in seconds.

    Regards

    Alan

    Thanks for that Alan. I'll pass on your comments to my friend.
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    I'm in the market for one. How do you get on with the Thule one Caissad (which model do you have?)?

    I need to be able to carry 2 adult bikes, and a small kids bike.
  • caissad
    caissad Posts: 59
    hammerite wrote:
    I'm in the market for one. How do you get on with the Thule one Caissad (which model do you have?)?

    I need to be able to carry 2 adult bikes, and a small kids bike.

    Hi Hammerite.

    I have one of the cheaper ones. It is the Thule 971 Bike On. It has been great and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who needs to transport two bikes. Unfortunately, as you have three, you would need to get one of the other models. They all work in much the same way.

    It is very easy to use. It fits onto the car in seconds and the bikes are very easy to mount onto it. I would recommend using a piece of foam pipe lagging to protect the bike frame from the grasper arms.

    As well as carrying my bikes which have a round tube frame, I've also used it to carry friends' bikes which have had more angular frames. The grasping mechanism was ok on these frames but I must say that it does seem to grasp a round tube more firmly.

    Also on frames with sloping top tubes you may need the Thule accessory bar (sorry, can't remember the part number) - it basically creates an artificial top tube for the grasping mechanism to grasp onto.
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    I have the Thule Ride on 9402, 2 bike carrier

    RideOn9301Product.jpg

    The three bike version, the 9403 from Halfords is exceptional value for money at £99, especially as it comes with number plate and light board, fully wired up, included.

    It is very easy to use, is kind to the bikes, fits in about 3 minutes, and has been totally secure in use. You can also access the tailgate whilst loaded with bikes as it has a hinge facility.

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